U.S. patent number 6,801,729 [Application Number 10/183,568] was granted by the patent office on 2004-10-05 for imaging apparatus with image fixing throughput control based on sheet size and method of operation thereof.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Canon Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Takashi Nakahara, Koichi Otaka, Yuichi Seki, Takashi Sekiguchi, Hiroshi Takazawa, Atsushi Wada.
United States Patent |
6,801,729 |
Wada , et al. |
October 5, 2004 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
Imaging apparatus with image fixing throughput control based on
sheet size and method of operation thereof
Abstract
An image forming apparatus has an image forming unit and a
film-heat-type fuser over which a sheet with an unfixed toner image
passes and on which are positioned a first temperature-measuring
device centered on the fuser so that a sheet always passes over
that device and a second temperature measuring device disposed away
from the center so that large sheets will pass over the second
temperature measuring device and small sheets will not pass over
the device when being conveyed correctly. The device also has a
temperature control mechanism, a sheet size detector and throughput
control, so that the throughput control changes throughput when the
sheet size detector determines that a small sheet is being conveyed
and the difference between the temperatures of the first and second
temperature measuring devices is less than a predetermined value as
the sheet passes over the fuser.
Inventors: |
Wada; Atsushi (Shizuoka,
JP), Nakahara; Takashi (Shizuoka, JP),
Otaka; Koichi (Shizuoka, JP), Seki; Yuichi
(Saitama, JP), Takazawa; Hiroshi (Chiba,
JP), Sekiguchi; Takashi (Shizuoka, JP) |
Assignee: |
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Tokyo,
JP)
|
Family
ID: |
19038879 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/183,568 |
Filed: |
June 28, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 3, 2001 [JP] |
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2001-201999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
399/68; 399/45;
399/69 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03G
15/2042 (20130101); G03G 2215/00734 (20130101); G03G
2215/2035 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G03G
15/20 (20060101); G03G 015/00 (); G03G
015/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;399/45,67,68,69,328 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Braun; Fred
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper &
Scinto
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for
forming an image on a sheet of at least two different sizes; a
fuser for fixing the image over which the sheet with the image
passes; a first temperature-measuring device disposed at a
substantially center position in a longitudinal direction of the
fuser; a second temperature-measuring device disposed at a
non-center position in a longitudinal direction of the fuser; and a
sheet conveying interval control for making the sheet conveying
interval longer in a case that temperatures detected by said first
and said second temperature-measuring devices represents that a
temperature rise in end portions of said fuser occurs when a
plurality of small size of sheets successively pass over said
fuser, wherein, when a plurality of small size sheets successively
pass over said fuser, even if temperatures detected by said first
and said second temperature-measuring devices represents that
substantially no temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser
occurs, said sheet conveying interval control makes the sheet
conveying interval longer.
2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
fuser is a film-heat-type fuser.
3. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
sheet conveying interval control makes the sheet conveying interval
longer even if a difference between temperatures respectively
detected by said first and said second temperature-measuring
devices is small, when the small size of sheets are incorrectly
set.
4. An imaging apparatus comprising: an image forming unit for
forming an image on a sheet; a fuser for fixing the image formed on
the sheet; a first temperature-measuring device disposed at a first
position on the fuser; a second temperature-measuring device
disposed at a second position on the fuser; and a sheet conveying
interval control for controlling a throughput of the imaging
apparatus by controlling a sheet conveying interval, wherein, when
a plurality of small size sheets successively pass over said fuser,
even if temperatures detected by said first and said second
temperature-measuring devices represent that substantially no
temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser occurs, said sheet
conveying interval control makes the sheet conveying interval
longer.
5. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sheet
conveying interval control reduces the throughput, when a plurality
of small size sheets successively pass over said fuser and the
difference between an average value of the temperature measured in
a predetermined period by the first temperature-measuring device
and another average value of the temperature measured in the
predetermined period by the second temperature-measuring device is
less than or equal to a predetermined value, or when a plurality of
small size sheets successively pass over said fuser and the
difference between the temperature measured by the first
temperature-measuring device and the temperature measured by the
second temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to a
predetermined value for a predetermined number of sheets being
performed for fixing.
6. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sheet
conveying interval control suspends heating and conveying of the
sheet when a plurality of small size sheets successively pass over
said fuser and the difference between the temperature measured by
the first temperature-measuring device and the temperature measured
by the second temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to
a predetermined value.
7. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said fuser is
a film-heat-type fuser.
8. An imaging apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a
size determining unit for determining whether a sheet is the small
size, and a side-restricting tray, wherein when the
side-restricting tray is set incorrectly for the sheet of the small
size, temperatures detected by said first and said second
temperature-measuring devices represent that substantially no
temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser may occur, even if
a plurality of small size sheets successively pass over said
fuser.
9. An imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the small
size of said sheet is an envelope size.
10. An imaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
side-restricting tray regulates the position of the sheet to be set
thereon with respect to a widthwise-intermediate part of the
side-restricting tray.
11. A method for operating an image forming apparatus comprising
the steps of: forming an image on a sheet; fixing the image formed
on the sheet; detecting a temperature by a first
temperature-measuring device disposed at a substantially center
position in a longitudinal direction of the fuser; detecting a
temperature by a second temperature-measuring device disposed at a
non-center position in a longitudinal direction of the fuser; and
controlling a sheet conveying interval for making the sheet
conveying interval longer in a case that a temperature rise in end
portion(s) of said fuser occurs when a plurality of small size
sheets successively pass over said fuser, wherein, when a plurality
of small size sheets successively pass over said fuser, even if
temperatures detected by said first and said second
temperature-measuring devices represent that substantially no
temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser occurs, said sheet
conveying interval controlling step makes the sheet conveying
interval longer.
12. A method for operating an image forming apparatus according to
claim 11, wherein said fuser is a film-heat-type fuser.
13. A method of operating an image forming apparatus according to
claim 11, wherein said sheet conveying interval control step makes
the sheet conveying interval longer even if a difference between
temperatures respectively detected by said first and said second
temperature-measuring devices is small, when the small size sheets
are incorrectly set.
14. A method for operating an imaging apparatus comprising the
steps of: forming an image on a sheet; fixing the image formed on
the sheet; detecting a temperature by a first temperature-measuring
device disposed at a first position on the fuser; detecting a
temperature by a second temperature-measuring device disposed at a
second position on the fuser; and controlling a sheet conveying
interval to control a throughput of the imaging apparatus, wherein,
when a plurality of small size sheets successively pass over said
fuser, even if temperatures detected by said first and said second
temperature-measuring devices represent that substantially no
temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser occurs, said sheet
conveying interval controlling step makes the sheet conveying
interval longer.
15. A method for operating an imaging apparatus according to claim
14, wherein said sheet conveying interval controlling step reduces
the throughput when a plurality of small size sheets successively
pass over said fuser and the difference between an average value of
the temperature measured in a predetermined period by the first
temperature-measuring device and another average value of the
temperature measured in the predetermined period by the second
temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to a
predetermined value, or when a plurality of small size sheets
successively pass over said fuser and the difference between the
temperature measured by the first temperature-measuring device and
the temperature measured by the second temperature-measuring device
is less than or equal to a predetermined value for a predetermined
number of sheets being conveyed for fixing.
16. A method for operating an imaging apparatus according to claim
14, wherein said sheet conveying interval controlling step suspends
heating and conveying of the sheet when a plurality of small size
sheets successively pass over said fuser and the difference between
the temperature measured by the first temperature-measuring device
and the temperature measured by the second temperature-measuring
device is less than or equal to a predetermined value.
17. A method for operating an imaging apparatus according to claim
14, wherein said fuser is a film-heat-type fuser.
18. A method for operating an imaging apparatus according to claim
14, further comprising a step of determining whether a sheet is the
small size, wherein when a side-restricting tray is set incorrectly
for the sheet of the small size, temperatures detected by said
first and said second temperature-measuring devices represent that
substantially no temperature rise in end portion(s) of said fuser
may occur, even if a plurality of small size of sheets successively
pass over said fuser.
19. A method for operating an imaging apparatus, according to claim
18, wherein the smaller size of said sheet is an envelope size.
20. A method for operating an imaging apparatus, according to claim
18, wherein the side-restricting tray regulates the position of the
sheet to be set thereon with respect to a widthwise-intermediate
part of the side-restricting tray.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to imaging apparatuses such as laser
beam printers. In particular, the present invention relates to a
fixing operation of such an imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, in a thermal image-fixing device which is included in an
imaging apparatus using a recording method such as an
electrophotographic method or an electrostatic recording method, a
so-called heat-roller-type heat-fuser has been widely used. In such
a device, a toner image is fixed to a sheet as a permanent image
when the sheet, which carries the toner image, travels through a
pressure-nip region formed between a fusion roller and a pressure
roller which rotate while being pressed to each other.
A heat-fuser in which electrical consumption is minimized by
suspending electric supply during a standby mode is also known. The
heat-fuser uses a film-heat method for thermally fixing toner
images on sheets by transferring the sheets between a pressure
roller and a heating element (a heater) mounted to a supporting
unit via a thin film (a fusing film).
The two types of heat-fusers described above, which form thermal
image-fixing devices, each include at least one
fusion-temperature-measuring member for use in controlling
temperature at which images are thermally fixed. The
fusion-temperature-measuring member generally uses a thermistor.
The fusion-temperature-measuring member is disposed in contact with
the heater or the pressure roller and thereby measures the
temperature of the heater or the pressure roller. Recently, a
method for measuring the temperature for thermal fusion by
measuring radiant heat from the heater or the pressure roller has
also been studied.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D show the relationship of positions between
a ceramic heater 11a serving as a heater element, thermistors 11d
and 11e, and a sheet 501 or 502. The sheets 501 and 502 are
transferred along arrows shown in the drawings. The dimension
perpendicular to the transfer direction of each sheet is
hereinafter referred to as the width. In FIG. 5A, a sheet having a
maximum width that can be transferred in the image forming
apparatus is sandwiched between the ceramic heater 11a and the
pressure roller. In FIG. 5B, a sheet having a minimum width that
can be transferred in the image forming apparatus is sandwiched by
the ceramic heater 11a and the pressure roller. The ceramic heater
11a is fixed to a stay 11b which positions the ceramic heater 11a,
as shown in FIG. 6.
The ceramic heater 11a opposes a pressure roller 10 with a fusing
film 11c therebetween. When the pressure roller 10 is driven, a
sheet which is sandwiched at a position (hereinafter referred to as
a nip) at which the pressure roller 10 and the fusing film 11c are
in contact with each other is conveyed. During this operation, a
developer carried on the sheet is fixed onto the sheet as a result
of the pressure from the pressure roller 10 and the heat supplied
by the ceramic heater 11a. The main thermistor 11d is disposed in a
position where a sheet passes, regardless of size. That is, the
main thermistor 11d is disposed in a given position in a region 510
shown in FIG. 5B. The sub-thermistor 11e is disposed in a position
where a part of a sheet having a maximum width which can be
conveyed passes by and which a part of a sheet having a minimum
width which can be conveyed does not pass by in a normal state.
That is, the sub-thermistor 11e is disposed in a given position in
region 511 shown in FIG. 5B.
FIG. 5C shows an example of temperature distribution in the ceramic
heater 11a when the sheet having a minimum width is transferred.
During the transfer of the sheet having a minimum width, gaps
between the ceramic heater 11a and the pressure roller 10 are
produced immediately outside the sheet because of the thickness of
the sheet, and regions in which heat generated by the ceramic
heater 11a is not transferred either to the sheet or to the
pressure roller 10 are thereby produced. Therefore, the temperature
in regions A and B of the ceramic heater 11a is increased as shown
in FIG. 5C, when the temperature is set to a target temperature by
using the main thermistor 11d.
The temperature is particularly rapidly increased when a substance
having a small width and a large thickness, for example, an
envelope is conveyed. For example, when the target temperature is
set to 200.degree. C., the temperature in the regions A and B is
likely to increase to 300.degree. C.
When the temperature in end portions of the ceramic heater 11a is
thus increased, the temperature is likely to exceed upper limits of
the resistance to heat of the pressure roller 10 and the stay (the
heater-supporting member) 11b. Therefore, there is a risk of
damaging these components. When a plain paper having a large width
is printed and the temperature in the end portions of the ceramic
heater 11a is increased, there is a risk of a hot offset or the
like due to an excessively raised temperature.
In order to prevent the temperature of the end portions from
increasing when a sheet having a small width is transferred, the
throughput is reduced when the temperature measured by the
sub-thermistor 11e is increased, thereby suppressing the
temperature rise in the end portions where no sheet portion passes.
The sub-thermistor 11e is provided in addition to the main
thermistor 11d in a position which no sheet portions pass by.
The temperature in the end portions increases at every fusion.
Therefore, when the throughput is reduced, the temperature rise in
the end portions decreases per unit time, and the components are
thereby protected from being damaged.
However, if a user does not correctly set a side-restricting tray
when setting envelopes or the like onto a multi-sheet-supply tray,
the following problem will occur.
An imaging apparatus, in which a recording sheet having a width
smaller than that of a sheet having a maximum width capable of
being used in the apparatus is set in a widthwise-intermediate part
of a sheet-supply tray (hereinafter referred to as a
center-sheet-supply system), uses a side-restricting tray having
two side-restricting members provided on the sheet-supply tray when
envelopes or the like are supplied. The two side-restricting
members are disposed symmetrical with respect to an intermediate
part of the side-restricting tray and are movable in conjunction
with each other. When a sheet is restricted at both sides thereof,
the sheet is positioned at the widthwise-intermediate part (see
FIG. 5B).
However, when envelopes or the like are offset toward one side of
the sheet-supply tray as a result of the two side-restricting
members being away from each other farther than the width of the
envelopes or the like, the envelopes or the like are transferred
along the regions at which the main thermistor 11d and the
sub-thermistor 11e are provided, as shown in FIG. 5D, and no
difference in temperature between the main thermistor 11d and the
sub-thermistor 11e is detected. Consequently, the throughput will
not be reduced; as a result, the temperature at positions where no
parts of the envelopes or the like pass will increase, and there is
a risk of damage to the components such as the pressure roller 10
and the stay 11b because the temperature is likely to exceed upper
limits of the resistance to heat of these components.
When printing of a plain paper having a larger width is performed
when the temperature in the end portions is increased, there is a
risk of a hot offset or the like due to an excessively raised
temperature.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
image forming apparatus and a method of operating the image forming
apparatus, in which a fuser is protected from being damaged even
when a user incorrectly sets a side-restricting tray and sheets,
such as envelopes, having a small width and a large thickness.
To these ends, according to an aspect of the present invention, an
imaging apparatus comprises a film-heat-type fuser over which a
sheet with an image passes for fixing; a first
temperature-measuring device for measuring temperature, disposed at
a position on the fuser over which part of a sheet regardless of
the size of the sheet will pass; a second temperature-measuring
device for measuring temperature, disposed at a position on the
fuser over which a part of a sheet having a maximum size will pass
and over which a sheet having a smaller size will not pass when the
sheet of smaller size is conveyed correctly; a temperature-control
member for controlling the temperature of the fuser in accordance
with the temperature measured by the first temperature-measuring
device; a sheet-size-detector for determining the size of the
sheet; and a throughput-control for controlling the throughput of
the imaging apparatus. The throughput-control changes the
throughput when the sheet-size-detector determines that the sheet
has the smaller size and when the difference between the
temperature measured by the first temperature-measuring device and
the temperature measured by the second temperature-measuring device
is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The measurement is
performed as the sheet passes over the fuser for fixing.
The throughput-control may reduce the throughput when the
sheet-size-detector determines that the sheet is the smaller size
and when the difference between an average value of the temperature
measured in a predetermined period by the first
temperature-measuring device and another average value of the
temperature measured in the predetermined period by the second
temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to a
predetermined value, the measurement being performed as the sheet
passes over the fuser for fixing.
An imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the invention,
wherein the throughput-control reduces the throughput when the
sheet-size-detector determines that the sheet is the smaller size
and when the difference between an average value of the temperature
measured in a predetermined period by the first
temperature-measuring device and another average value of the
temperature measured in the predetermined period by the second
temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to a
predetermined value, the measurement being performed as the sheet
passes over the fuser for fixing.
The throughput-control may suspend heating and transfer of the
sheet when the sheet-size-detector determines that the sheet is the
smaller size and when the difference between the temperature
measured by the first temperature-measuring device and the
temperature measured by the second temperature-measuring device is
less than or equal to a predetermined value, the measurement being
performed as the sheet passes over the fuser for fixing.
The throughput may be changed when the sheet-size-detector
determines that the sheet is the smaller size and when the
difference between the temperature measured by the first
temperature-measuring device and the temperature measured by the
second temperature-measuring device is less than or equal to a
predetermined value for a predetermined number of sheets, the
measurement being performed as each sheet passes over the fuser for
fixing.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for
operating an imaging apparatus provided with a film-heat-type fuser
comprises the steps of determining whether a transferred sheet is
smaller than a predetermined value; determining whether a
side-restricting tray is set incorrectly for the sheet having a
size smaller than the predetermined value; and changing throughput
of the imaging apparatus when it is determined that the sheet has a
size smaller than the predetermined value and when it is determined
that the side-restricting tray is set incorrectly for the sheet
having a size smaller than the predetermined value.
The smaller size of the sheet may comprise the size of an
envelope.
The side-restricting tray may regulate the position of the sheet to
be set thereon with respect to a widthwise-intermediate part of the
side-restricting tray.
According to the present invention, an image forming apparatus, in
which a fuser is protected from being damaged even when a user
incorrectly sets a side-restricting tray and sheets, such as
envelopes, having a small width and a large thickness, is
obtainable.
Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an operation of an imaging apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of an imaging apparatus
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an illustration of the outline of the imaging
apparatus.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a film-heat-type fuser.
FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are illustrations showing the relationship
of positions between a ceramic heater, thermistors, and a
sheet.
FIG. 6 is an illustration of another film-heat-type fuser.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Preferred embodiments of an imaging apparatus according to the
present invention are described below in detail. The present
invention is applicable not only to the imaging apparatus but also
to a method for operating the imaging apparatus according to the
embodiments.
First Embodiment
(Overall Configuration)
FIG. 3 is an illustration showing is outline form the configuration
of an imaging apparatus. In FIG. 3, each sheet 2 stacked in a
sheet-supply cassette 1 is taken out by a cassette-sheet-supply
roller 3, and is conveyed into a sheet-transfer path 5 by transfer
rollers 4. Imaging timing for the sheet 2 is determined and the
positions of the leading edge and the trailing edge of the sheet 2
are detected by a sheet sensor 7. The leading edge of the sheet 2
is aligned to the sheet sensor 7 by registration rollers 6. The
registration rollers 6 transfer the sheet 2 to a transfer roller 8
and a photosensitive drum 9. The sheet 2 with toner thereon
transferred by the transfer roller 8 and the photosensitive drum 9
is conveyed to a pressure roller 10, a fusing film 11c, and a
ceramic heater 11a, which serve to fix the toner to the sheet 2,
and the toner is pressure-fixed to the sheet 2. Then, the sheet 2
is discharged by sheet-discharge rollers 12 driven by a motor (not
shown). A CPU 13 controls a heater-driving circuit 14 and thereby
controls the temperature of the ceramic heater 11a.
(Configuration of Fuser)
FIG. 4, is a cross-sectional view of a typical film-heat-type
heat-fuser. In FIG. 4, a heating unit 410 includes, as major
components, a heater 411, a guide member 412 which is commonly used
as a heater-supporting member, and a fusing film 413. The heater
411 is fixed to the guide member 412 which guides the rotational
motion of the fusing film 413. The guide member 412 is made of, for
example, a heat-resistive resin, supports the heater 411 as a
heating element, and guides the fusing film 413. A heat-resistive
grease or the like is applied between the fusing film 413, and the
heater 411 and the guide member 412 at the periphery thereof so
that the fusing film 413 can rotate by sliding smoothly. A
thermistor 415 as a fusion-temperature-measuring member for
measuring temperature of the heater 411 is generally provided. The
thermistor 415 may be mounted to the heater 411 via a
heat-resistive adhesive or by pressing by using the pressure of a
resilient member. A fuser such as shown in each of FIGS. 5A to 5D
and FIG. 6 may be used.
(Normal Operation)
In FIG. 3, each sheet 2 stacked in the sheet-supply cassette 1 is
supplied by the cassette-sheet-supply roller 3 and is conveyed by
the transfer rollers 4 into the sheet-transfer path 5 in the
imaging apparatus. Imaging timing is determined and the leading
edge and the trailing edge of the sheet 2 are detected by the sheet
sensor 7. The sheets 2 to be supplied are positioned by using a
side-restricting tray 2A which restricts sides of each sheet 2 with
respect to a widthwise-intermediate part of the side-restricting
tray. Therefore, sheets having a small width are also positioned at
an intermediate part in the width direction of the side-restricting
tray.
Each sheet 2 is aligned at the leading edge thereof to the sheet
sensor 7 and is conveyed to the transfer roller 8 and the
photosensitive drum 9 at a given timing by the registration rollers
6. The sheet 2 is conveyed with toner thereon by the transfer
roller 8 and the photosensitive drum 9 and is conveyed to the
pressure roller 10, the fusing film 11c, and the ceramic heater
11a, which serve to fix the toner to the sheet 2, and the toner is
pressure-fixed to the sheet 2. Then, the sheet 2 is discharged by
the sheet-discharge roller 12. When pressure-fixing the toner image
on the sheet 2, the temperature of the ceramic heater 11a is
measured by a main thermistor 11d and the measured data is sent to
the CPU 13. The CPU 13 controls electric power supplied to the
ceramic heater 11a by using the heater-driving circuit 14 so that
the temperature measured by the main thermistor 11d becomes a
predetermined constant temperature.
The CPU 13 maintains the temperature of the ceramic heater 11a
constant by controlling the electric power to be applied to the
ceramic heater 11a such that it increases by the amount of heat
which is transferred to the sheet 2 when the sheet 2 passes by the
ceramic heater 11a. In this case, when a sheet having a smaller
width passes by the ceramic heater 11a, the temperature of the
ceramic heater 11a is increased at the end portions thereof where
no sheet portion passes.
When the temperature in the end portions of the ceramic heater 11a
excessively rises, the temperature of the ceramic heater 11a and
the components such as the fusing film 11c, the pressure roller 10,
and a stay (heater-supporting member) 11b which are in contact with
the ceramic heater 11a rises excessively. Therefore, these
components may deform and deteriorate by being melted, and become
incapable of normal function.
(Operational Features)
FIG. 1 is a flowchart of an operation of the imaging apparatus
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
A sub-thermistor 11e is disposed in an end portion of the ceramic
heater 11a and sends temperature data measured by the
sub-thermistor 11e to the CPU 13. The CPU 13 determines whether a
sheet has a small size such as an envelope and is not a
regular-size sheet such as an A4-size sheet or a letter-size sheet
(step 102 which is referred to as S102 in the drawing (other
reference numerals for steps are referred to in the same manner as
step 102)), after the sheet reaches a fixing nip (step 101) in a
predetermined time after the leading edge of the sheet is detected
by the sheet sensor 7. When it is determined that the sheet has a
small size, the average value of the temperature measured by the
main thermistor 11d and the average value of the temperature
measured by the sub-thermistor 11e are computed (steps 103 and 104,
respectively). The CPU 13 monitors the operations in the above
steps until the sheet has passed the fixing nip (step 105). When
the difference between the two average values of temperature
(.DELTA.T=Tsub-Tm) is less than or equal to 20.degree. C. (step
106), it is determined that a small sheet such as an envelope was
supplied without being correctly set by using a side-restricting
tray, and the throughput is changed from 18 ppm (the number of
sheets to be printed per minute) which is a throughput of printing
regular-size sheets to 12 ppm which is a throughput of printing
small sheets such as envelopes (step 107).
With this arrangement, the fuser can be protected from being
damaged because the temperature in the end portions is kept from
rising by appropriately reducing throughput, even when a thick
sheet having a small width passes both by the main thermistor 11d
and by the sub-thermistor 11e and the temperature in the end
portion opposite to that provided with the sub-thermistor 11e
rises, in such a case as the thick sheet having a small width such
as an envelope is incorrectly set onto the side-restricting
tray.
When it is determined in step 102 that the sheet is not a small
sheet, the process proceeds to step 108 and is completed.
The side-restricting tray is considered to have been correctly set
when it is determined in step 106 that the difference of
temperature exceeds 20.degree. C., and the process proceeds to step
108 and is completed.
The throughput may be reduced in step 107 after it is determined by
a sensor that a predetermined number of sheets has reached the
ceramic heater 11a. Instead of reducing the throughput, processes,
such as suspending heating and transfer of the sheets and issuing a
suggestion or warning to correctly set the side-restricting tray,
may be applied.
Second Embodiment
The overall configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a
second embodiment of the present invention is similar to that shown
in FIG. 3. The configuration of a fuser used in the imaging
apparatus according to the second embodiment is similar to that
shown in FIGS. 4, 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 6. Therefore, a description
regarding these drawings for the second embodiment is omitted.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an operation of the imaging apparatus
according to the second embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the computation of an average value Tm of the
temperature measured by the main thermistor 11d (step 202) and an
average value Tsub of the temperature measured by the
sub-thermistor 11e (step 203) is repeatedly performed after the
leading edge of a sheet reaches a sheet-discharge sensor (step 201)
until the trailing edge of the sheet passes by the sheet-discharge
sensor (step 204).
When it is determined that the sheet has a small size in step 205
as a result of measuring the length of the sheet by the
sheet-discharge sensor, the process proceeds to step 206 in which
it is determined whether or not the difference between the average
value of the temperature measured by the sub-thermistor 11e and the
average value of the temperature measured by the main thermistor
11d (.DELTA.T=Tsub-Tm) is less than or equal to 20.degree. C. When
the difference between the two average values of, temperature is
less than or equal to 20.degree. C., it is determined that a small
sheet such as an envelope was supplied without being correctly set
by using a side-restricting tray, and the throughput is changed
from 18 ppm which is a throughput of printing regular-size sheets
to 12 ppm which is a throughput of printing small sheets such as
envelopes (step 207).
With this arrangement, the fuser can be protected from being
damaged because the temperature in the end portions is kept from
rising by appropriately reducing throughput, even when a thick
sheet having a small width passes both by the main thermistor 11d
and by the sub-thermistor 11e and the temperature in the end
portion opposite to that provided with the sub-thermistor 11e
rises, in such a case as the thick sheet having a small width such
as an envelope is incorrectly set onto the side-restricting
tray.
When it is determined in step 205 that the sheet is not a small
sheet, the process proceeds to step 208 and is completed.
The side-restricting tray is considered to have been correctly set
when it is determined that the difference of temperature exceeds
20.degree. C. in step 206, and the process proceeds to step 208 and
is completed.
While the present invention has been described with reference to
what are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it
is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended
to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included
within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *